📈 Port City Colombo Targets India for Growth, Aims to Double Tourist Arrivals

Sri Lanka’s US$ 15 Bn Port City Special Economic Zone (SEZ) has placed India at the center of its growth strategy, aiming to leverage the neighboring nation for tourism, real estate, and corporate investments. • Key Tourism & MICE Targets: Annual Indian tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka are projected to double from ~600,000 last year to 1.2 million by 2030, supported by 90 existing flights connecting the nations. Port City aims to extend the average 1.5-day tourist stay in Colombo via new attractions, including a yacht marina, South Asia's first downtown duty-free retail zone, and an upcoming event air dome by Oct-Nov 2026. • Corporate & ICT Expansion: The SEZ is actively targeting Indian ICT/BPM firms and Global Capability Centres (GCCs), positioning itself as a resilient business continuity and disaster recovery location to complement India's ecosystem. Partnerships with organizations like NASSCOM for corporate events are currently being explored. • Investment & Real Estate: Indian investors and companies are estimated to contribute roughly 25% of the total investment across businesses and real estate within the project. Furthermore, international investors from regions like Southeast Asia are increasingly viewing the SEZ as a strategic gateway to the Indian market.